How do I check if the Java JDK is installed on Mac?

java

java-8

javac

jdk-management

byNikita Barsukov·Jan 17, 2025

To verify Java JDK installation on your Mac, use this command:

javac -version

In your Terminal. If version information appears, JDK is installed. If nothing is displayed or an error arises, it's an indication that JDK might not be installed.

Comprehensive verification

If you want to delve deeper, or if you need detailed information about the installed version, there is a command that comes in handy:

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

This handy command will list all the installed JDK versions, making it much easier for you to navigate in case multiple JDKs have been installed on your system.

Looking to target a specific JDK version within your environment? Adapt the command as follows:

/usr/libexec/java_home -v <version>

This will give you the directory path of the specific JDK version, ideal when configuring environment variables or modifying paths for specific project requirements.

Resolving common use-cases

Silent operation

There are times when you want to check for JDK presence silently without any terminal output. Here's how you do it:

/usr/libexec/java_home >/dev/null

This command confirms the JDK presence without outputting anything to the terminal, proving useful in scripts or for automating tasks.

Condition-based execution

On successful confirmation of the JDK installation, you might want to proceed to execute other commands. On failure, it is handy to alert yourself or quit. Here is how you can chain these operations:

javac -version && echo "JDK is ready to roll!" || echo "Hey buddy, install JDK first!"

If javac is present, you will see "JDK is ready to roll!" outputted, otherwise "Hey buddy, install JDK first!"

Verifying the Java Compiler Path

If you need to verify the path of the javac executable, this is the command for you:

which javac

If /usr/bin/javac is returned as output, the JDK is comfortably sitting in expected directories.

Manual Path verification

Sometimes, you like to dig around manually. If so, navigate to /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/. You will find directories corresponding to each JDK installation present.

Advanced tips for power users

JDK version management with jenv

Java developers often work on multiple projects that may require different Java versions. To cleanly toggle between different Java versions, consider using version management tools like jenv.